Inkwell



May 19, 1925. 1,538,232

w. A. BASS INKWELL Filed July 19 1924 05 )9 2 I13 /4 I29 ['9 5 19.3. V 51 9- 24 V22 :1 5 gmnto'o halter A. Bass Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES WALTER A/BASS, F BRUNDIDGE, ALABAMA.

INKWELL.

Application filed July 19, 1924. seim No. 727,024.

To all whom it. may concern:

Be it known that I, 'VVA TER A. BASS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brundidge, in the county of i Pike and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inkwells, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ink wells. An important object to provide a device of this character, wherein a plurality of ink wells, are automatically fed with ink, from a common.

source;

A further object of theinvention is to provide means associated with the ink well, for the holding ofpapers, pens, pencils, or the like. 1 v

A further object of theinvention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, which is sectional, formed of units which may be increased, or decreased, at will.

Other objects and advantages of-the invention. will be apparent during the course of the. following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthiss'pecification, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a modified form of the device, parts being broken away, and,

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section through the valve structure.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral designates a preferably flat base, formed of wood, fibre, or any other suitable material. This base is preferably formed in sections 11 and 12, which may be detachably secured together by any suitable means, as by means of dowels 13. These base sections are provided upon their bottom or lower surfaces with longitudinal grooves 14, in alinement with each other. These several grooves lead into vertical recesses 15, passing through the top of the base sections.

Arranged within the recesses 15 are ink of the invention is wells 16, formed of any suitable material, such as hard rubber or the'like. These ink wells extend above the base sections for a slight distance, and may have their upper ends detachably engage rings 17, which limit the downward movement of the ink wells. A sectional ink supply pipe 18, extends longitudinally within the grooves 14, and is in communication with the bottom of the ink wells through T-couplings 19. This pipe is preferably formed in sections secured together by couplings 20, preferably occurring at the ends of the base sections. Instead of employing the coupling at the end of the ink supply pipe, a suitable cap 19 may be substituted therefor, to close the end of the pipe, as shown.

Formed in the base section 11 is a float chamber 21, receiving a vertical float casing 22, in communication with the pipe 14 by means of a valve structure 23, of any well known or preferred type. A float 24 is mounted within the chamber 21, and is suitably connected with the vertically movable and downwardly opening valve element 23 of the valve structure. The levelof the ink within the float chamber 21 remains constant with the-levelof the inkwithin the several ink wells 16, as the chamber 21 is in permanent communication with the ink wells, and when the ink iswithdrawn from one of the ink wells, the float 24 is slightly lowered, and the valve element opened, and ink allowed to pass this valve structure, to be distributed into the float chamber and c the several ink wells, thereby maintaining the level of the ink constant therein. The valve structure may be of any well known or preferred type, as is obvious.

Arranged above the left end of the base section 11 is an elevated ink reservoir 24, and supported by legs 25, attached to the base section. An air vent 26 is provided and a removable stopper is provided to permit of the refilling of the reservoir. The free end of the pipe 13 is bent upwardly and leads into the bottom of the reservoir 24, as shown.

In Figure 4, I have shown a modification of the device. In this figure the same base sections and ink wells are employed, and the same sectional ink supply pipe. However, the float chamber 21 is dispensed with. The ink is automatically supplied to the pipe by means of an atmospheric device, embodying an inverted receptacle 28, having a receiving opening 29 in its top, having an air tight stopper 30 therein. The inverted reservoir or receptacle 28 leads at its lower end into an enlarged atmospheric receptacle 31, having a port 32, leading to the atmosphere. The upturned end of the pipe 18, leads into the bottom of the atmospheric receptacle 31.

In connection with both forms of the invention, I employ a tray which is preferably formed sectional, corresponding to the length of the base sections. Each tray may be equipped with pockets 34-, for holding pins, clips, or the like. There may also be a pin cushion 35 mounted upon the rear edge of the tray. Each tray section may be equipped with a pin or pencil holding device 36.

In the use of the device, as ink drawn from each or all of the ink wells, it will be automatically ted therein, and the level of the ink within the same maintained constant.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus what I claim is:

1. An ink well apparatus, comprising a plurality of base sections adapted to be arranged in end to end contacting relation, means for detachably connecting the base is withdescribed my invention,

sections together, a plurality of conduit sections corresponding in number and arrangement to the base sections, means for detachably connecting the conduit sections, ink wells carried by the base sections and corresponding in number with relation thereto and having connection with the corresponding conduit sectioina reservoir attached to one base section' and arranged at an eleva tion above the ink wells and connected with one of the conduit sections.

2. An ink well apparatus comprising a plurality of base sections arranged in end to end relation, said base sections being pro vided upon their lower side with longitudinal grooves adapted to form in effect a continuous groove, means for detachably connecting the base sections, ink wells -mounted upon the several base sections, a

plurality of conduit sections arranged within said grooves beneath the base sections and corresponding in number with relation to said base section, means for detachably connecting the ends of the conduit sections, means for detachably connecting the conduit sections with the corresponding ink wells, a reservoir carried by one base section and disposed at an elevation above the said ink wells, and having connection with one conduit section, a float chamber connected with the conduit section which is connected with said reservoir, a valve connected in the last named conduit section, and means connecting the float and valve.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WALTER A. BASS 

